Intro

Heavily forested, Shubie Park is roughly linear in shape as it is bounded on the north and west by Highway 118 expressway and on the south and east by Lake Micmac and the southern edge of Lake Charles. A section of the Shubenacadie Canal passes through the park, from which the park takes its name.

Shubie Park contains trails and an interpretive facility called the Fairbanks Centre next to the Canal and close to Locks 2 and 3 which are between Lakes Micmac and Charles. The Fairbanks Centre features a working scale model of canal lock mechanisms as well as a number of other displays. At the Centre visitors are able to pick up printed guides to the trail which goes on either side of the man-made channel between the two lakes which is just over a kilometer long. There are a number of interpretive signs along this trail which provide information about the history of the Waterway. The brochure includes directions for other trails in the Park as well.

The featured trail follows a remaining section of the waterway along the west side of Lake Charles and on to Porto Bello. Unfortunately at this time there is no connection to the Lake William Trail which will eventually allow hikers to make their way to Waverley and on to Lake Thomas. In the other direction it connects to the Graham’s Grove Park and continues toward downtown Dartmouth via Sullivans Pond Park and the Canal Marine Railway or Greenway park. In this area it is also possible to link up with the Harbour front trail which carries on down to the Ferry Terminal in Woodside.

People wishing to hike these trails are encouraged to drop into the Fairbanks Centre to obtain additional information.